istaken about that man being a convict, Burton,' said
Done to Mike later, breaking a long silence.

'Sure I'm not. Saw the cuff-marks on his wrists as he was battling with
Stony. Why?'

'He's the man who was in the trap with Macdougal of Boobyalla the other
day in Swanston Street.'

'The swell in the choker and double-decker?'

'Yes. For some reason his face impressed me. I couldn't mistake it.'

'Didn't notice it; but if he's own brother to Governor Latrobe himself,
I'll take my affie he's a lag.'

The mates overtook the carter with their tent and stores and tools within
a day's journey of the rush, and pushed on to secure a claim. Done's
first sight of a busy goldfield was gained on a clear, sunny morning,
when, after passing through Sawpit Gully, they came upon the beginning of
the long lead that comprised many rushes, known as Forest Creek. The
impression Jim retained was a semi-humorous one of humans reduced to the
proportions and the dignity of ants, engaged upon the business of ants
wrought to a pitch of excitement by some grand windfall at their doors.
Little figures bustled about, carrying burdens; pigmies swarmed along the
lead. The holes, with their white and yellow tips, were clustered as
close together as the cells in a great honeycomb, and into the shafts and
out of them bobbed hurrying, eager creatures. The whirring of windlasses,
the clatter of nail-keg buckets, the incessant calls, 'Look up below!'
and the distinct ringing of hammer on anvil, blended into a quaint
symphony of labour. The swish, swish, swish, of the wet dirt in the
cradle-hoppers and the rattling of the tailings thrown from the shovels
providing an unvarying substratum of sound. There were tents everywhere,
large and small, dotting the distance, but clustering into a township of
canvas to the right of the Creek, and over the scene floated a faint
mirage, so that the whole field and all in it quivered in the warm
ascending air, the gauzy effect aiding the idea of stagy unreality.

At the first sight of the lead Mike threw his hat into the air and
cheered wildly. Another party coming in were beating their jaded horses
to a run, the men jumping beside the team mad with joy, shouting like
maniacs. On all hands were the waggons and drays unloading by tents not
yet fully erected. The men who were not busy at their claims or puddling,
cradling or panning-off dishes by the creek, were breathlessly engaged
upon the work of getting their ca